Ex-Super Eagles coach, Lagerback joins Norway

Former Super Eagles coach, Lars Lagerback, will take over Norway’s struggling national squad, the federation announced Wednesday.

The 68-year-old Swede, who coached tiny Iceland to its stunning Euro 2016 performance, has signed a three-year contract with the Football Association of Norway after coaching Sweden (2000-2009) and Nigeria (2010).

Perhaps his greatest achievement was his 2011-2016 spell with Iceland which culminated in reaching the Euro 2016 quarter-finals while humiliating traditionally stronger England along the way.

Lagerback takes over from Per-Mathias Hogmo, who resigned in mid-November after a series of poor results.

Norway are currently ranked 84th by FIFA.

With three defeats and a single victory against San Marino, the country is in second-last place in its 2018 World Cup qualifying Group C.

“This is obviously a difficult situation,” Lagerback told reporters about the team’s chances of qualifying.

“It will be difficult to win the group but there is still a possibility of finishing second” and having a chance at the play-offs, he added.

His appointment puts an end to the Norwegian federation’s more than two-month quest, after former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and FC Copenhagen’s successful coach Stale Solbakken both turned down the job.

Lagerback had most recently served as adviser to the Swedish team since last summer.